TAIPEI: The combat skills of Taiwan鈥檚 military are now 鈥渕ore mature鈥� and it is better able to fight thanks to having to repeatedly scramble to see off Chinese forces during their recent drills, President Tsai Ing-wen said on Tuesday.
China staged war games in the immediate aftermath of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 visit to Taipei last month, angered by what it saw as a strong show of US support for the island Beijing claims as its own territory. Chinese military activities close to Taiwan have continued since then.
Speaking to air force personnel at the Hualien air base on Taiwan鈥檚 east coast, Tsai said the situation around the Taiwan Strait remained tense and the threat had not gone away.
鈥淚n the face of challenges, our national military has calmly responded to the enemy鈥檚 intents at intrusion and have tenaciously defended the country鈥檚 security,鈥� she said, according to a transcript of the remarks released by the presidential office.
鈥淚 believe that after this period of combat readiness missions, our national military鈥檚 combat skills are more mature and its combat power is more powerful.鈥�
Tsai added that she was 鈥渆xtremely proud鈥� of the armed forces.
The Hualien base has hangers cut out of the side of a mountain and is home to Lockheed Martin Corp. F-16s.
Taiwan鈥檚 military is also holding two days of drills starting late Tuesday around Hengchun on the far southern tip of the island. Apache attack helicopters, Ching-kuo Indigenous Defense Fighters, artillery and drones will feature in the drills.
Taiwan鈥檚 armed forces are well-equipped but dwarfed by China鈥檚. Tsai has been overseeing a modernization program and has made increasing defense spending a priority.
Taiwan has set defense as the theme for this year鈥檚 Oct. 10 national day, with the slogan 鈥淵ou and me join together to protect the land and defend the country,鈥� organizers said on Tuesday.
Tsai will oversee a military parade that day and give a key note speech.
Taiwan鈥檚 democratically-elected government says that as the People鈥檚 Republic of China has never ruled the island, it has no right to claim it or decide its future, which can only be set by Taiwan鈥檚 people.
China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.